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March 9, 2006 (edited)
1st Set: A fluid, but a tad too polite "Cold Rain" opens up the final night, and sixth show in So. California in three months. Hear that Phil?! Two Phil & Friends shows in LA in 48 months, but 6 Dead shows in 2 1/2. (Bastard always kissing NYC's ass) After a ten second pause, it's time to go to "Hell." It's decent enough, but the recent ones I've heard lack the excitement and youthful vigor of '87 versions. Find yourself a plush mattress and pillow and rest your eyes visualizing the parable "Row." 12 full beats and a "BIODTL." Pretty chill version that segues into a similiarly sounding "Promised." Thankfully, the frills start jumping out halfway through the rendition leading to a very pleasing version. "West LA"'s got some attitude, but leaves me with no blisters from those unsavory characters. Spencer Davis joins the band on-stage for an infectiously uptempo "How Long Blues." A hard-charging "Gimme" closes out the set. It's longer than usual with a cool-down/pick-me up last three minutes. Brent's Hammond is toned down to make room for Spencer's Chicago Blues guitar work and his rough deep-hewn vocals. "Spencer Davis. We'll be back in a little bit." (Bobby) "Thank you. I'd like to thank the gentlemen from the Grateful Dead." (Spencer)
2nd Set: Back atcha with a nicely vocalized, but bit weak "Iko Iko." It's the first time in a where I can claim that Brent's solos sound tired. Well well...a friend from back when "Monkey & the Engineer" returns for a one-time appearance. Pretty innocuous and unexciting but I enjoyed singing along. A decent "Alabama" follows though it would help if Jery could firm up his vocal delivery. "Dire" is fine...but I'm getting awfully impatient with all the fluff. "Cassidy" is direct with some off-putting chords hit by Mr. Dylan, still stuck in his 80's mire. Speaking with being stuck "Memphis" is next. Jerry adds some pleadingly urgent harmonies every so often, but it's pretty basic and brisk. A very funny moment happens at
5:57 when Bobby forgets the lyric...Dylan crawls up to the mic and takes over singing...and they switch off for the remainder of the duration. Into "Drums" & "space" the latter veers into twisted territory. Gotta dig the anticipatory feeling during the beginning of "TOO" as the pluckers lead us to believe that action will be picking up. Phil and Jerry sound great riffing off each other. "Stella" makes me feel especially weary after only 4 hours of sleep the previous night. Frankly, the version like the closing "Foolish" that follows feels rushed. Ten sconds of a horrifying 'nails on chalkboard' noise is emitted at 5:07. A wispy
The crowd senses the "NFA" that arises. More 'nails on chalkboard' at 1:54. Standard. Dylan sounds silly while singing a decent "Knockin." He lacks Jerry's convincingly heavy honesty.
3 stars